Calvin

I got into Cornell early decision in 2020, out of a public school. No legacy, no donations, no admissions counselor, no national awards. What I had was an essay that made someone want to keep reading.

I have been writing since I was a kid, starting with a blog I ran in high school. College essays have been the focus since. I coach and edit students through the Common App personal statement and the wider application narrative.

How I work

1. Brain dumpWe get everything out of your head first, with no filter and no pressure to be impressive.
2. Pull the threadsWe go through it together and find the ones worth following. Most students arrive certain of their topic and leave with a better one they had not thought to mention.
3. Model paragraphsI draft model paragraphs, sometimes a full model essay, so you can hear exactly what the voice should sound like on the page.
4. You writeYour draft, your story, in your voice.
5. We editRound after round on your draft until it is where it needs to be.

Everything can run over chat, on your schedule. We hop on a call when it helps.

On AI

Use it badly and it shows. Detectors flag it, and long before that, an admissions officer who has read three hundred essays this month can tell. That is a real risk to your application, and most students taking shortcuts have no idea how visible it is.

Use it well and it changes what is possible. You move maybe ten times faster, you never trip a detector, and the whole thing stays completely ethical and safe.

The difference is entirely in how you use it. I go through exactly that in the masterclass and in 1:1 work.

Common questions

Elsewhere

Instagram, where nearly 12,000 people follow the essay breakdowns. Client reviews. Writing.

Apply for a 1:1 spot